Wire-banding machine



Nov. 29, 1927.

J. s, MGCHESNEY WIRB-BANDING MZCHI'NEI Nov. 29, E927,

J. S. MCCHESNEY WIRE BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8. 1918 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 29,1927. 1,650,843

J. S. MCCHESNEY WIRE -BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. a, 1918 Nav. 29,1927. Lemma J. S. MCCHESNEY WIRE B'ANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1918 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 v i k Invgn liar.'

@Sez/man p7 tlf/7.8% A Y Z7@ y l Nov. 29,1927. m5032543 J. S. MGCHESNEY WIRE BANDING MACINE Fiied A'ug. e. 191B '7 sheets-sheet "l Inventor! y' Parente-a Nev. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,650,843 PATENT OFFICE.

come anEmrAN nccnEsNEY, or oHrcAGo, ILLINOIS, nssIeNon.,4 BY MEsNE ASSIGN-l MENTS, T CARY MANUFACTURING TION 0F NEW "YORK co., or BROOKLYN, NEW Yoan, .aconronawInEfBANmNG MACHINE.

Application led August 8, 1918. Serial No. 248,832.

My invention relates to machines for-wires banding packages, its generalobjects being` to provide a power driven machine designed vfor quickly and eiectively encircling a box o or other package with a wire band tightened to a predetermined tension, and fastened under this tension, all with a minimum requirement of time and of attention on the part of theoperator. Viewed in some of its more particular aspects, my invention aims to provide power-driven `means for feeding the end of a supply of wire into a loop'adapted lto encircle the'object which is to be banded, also power driven means for tightening the loop about the package to a predetermined tension, for gripping relatively spaced portions of the l for s'evering the loop from the supply Vof wire andfor effectively joining adjacent portions of the loop While the latter 1s thus tensioned about the package.'

For these purposes, my invention aims to provide means for automatlcall predetermined length of wire mto: a loop formation, for gripping the free end portion of the wire, for then tightening the loop' about the package and gripping another portion of the loop, and for thereafterseverin theentire loo from the supply of wire an permanently joining adjacent end portions l of the loop.. Furthermore, my invention `aims to provide means Yfor joining -loop ends While Voverlapped parallel to. each other and substantiallyparallel to a side ofV the package, to proyide for effecting this joining with a minimum o fsp'acebetween the overlapped loop ends and lthe package, and for automatically introducing and retracting the means which space the overlapped v loop ends-- from the package during the joining Of the 40 loopends. My invention also aims to grovide simple means for electrically vwel the endsof the wire loop to each other, an l preferably for weld-joining them to eachV other at a number of s acedlines or points; by applyingv current or artion ofthe ltime during which the wire oop vparts are pressed together at these points.; also, for

making the actuating of the wire-severmg'j and the welding apparatus automatically responsive to a predetermined tensioning of the loop, thereby eliminating both the necessity of vigilance on the part of the operatorof the machineand 'any loss of time between the reaching ofthe desired tensioning automatically return various operative elements of the machine to their starting feeding a longitudinal section taken substantlally ceny trally of the machine of Figs. 1 and 2 and Wire.

vand the actuating ofthe wire-severing and welding portions of the machine. My inven tion also aims to provide for such purposes a vmachine of relatively simple construction, which will be positive in its action, which positions, and which will avoid a dama of the machine in the event that the ban Wire should break during the tensioning. Furthermore, my invention aims to rovide a Amachine which will be equally adiiptable :lor use with round or fiat wire 4and with one in which the extent4 of various operations is controlled by clutches of relatively. simple 'and durable construction. Still Vother objects of my Kinvention will appear from the .following specification and from the aocompanying drawings,fin which Fig. l is a front elevation -of a machine embodying my invention, showing the same in its Awire-feeding position. I

Fig. 2 is aplan view -of the same.

Fig. 3 is an 'enlarged and fragmentary showing the' mechanism in position for mak-4 ing one of the welds after the wireof the loop has been severed fromthe supply of 85 Fig. ,4 is a similar fragmentary section' showing themeclianism in the position 1n which it feeds the wire-into the raceway.

Figs. 5 and 6-are vertical'sectionstaken through Fig. 4. along the lines 5-5 andl 6 -6 respectigely. j

Fig. 7""is a detail of the mechanism showing the operation of the wire cutter.

Fig. Sis a similar` detail showing the cams controlling the three welding electrodes. 9B Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail showing the resilient connection between the lever operating one ofthe wire-gripping clamps and the' mechanism for starting. the wire feeding rollers and for rendering the wire-tensioning rollers'inoper'ative.Y 1

F ig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertl.- cal section taken through Fig. 4 alon the line 10.-10 and showing the face o the clutch controlling the wirefclamping and welding mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a transversesection through Fig. l i

Fig. 12 is a transverse section through F iv. l1 along the zigzag line 12-12.

Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the barrel and clutch pin respectively of the clutch of Figs. 10, 11- and 12.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of joined wire loop portions indicating the spacing of the welds.

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Fig. 17 is a perspective detail of part of the mechanism for tripping the clutch controlling the wire-tensioning means.

Fig. 18 is a further detail view of the mechanism for tripping the clutch controlling the wire-tensioning means.

Fig. 19 is a detail view of the commutating arrangement for controlling the supply of current to the electrodes.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the machine of my invention includes a frame 1 supporting a table 2 surmounted by a channel-sectioned raceway 3 somewhat larger than the maximum size of box or package 4 Awhich is to be banded. The raceway 3 has a bottom portion cut away and the table 2 has a longitudinal slot 5 in vertical alinement with the raceway and also substantially in alinement with an entrance runway 6 extending from the junctuie'of a pair of feeding rolls 8 toward the said slot, and with a guidcway 7 interposed between the feedlng rolls 8 and a pair of wire-tensioning rolls 69, each of the said pairs of rolls being supported by the frame 1. The wire-feeding rolls are connected by gearing with a gear 9 loosely mounted on a shaft 10, which shaft 10 is connected by bevel gears to a continuously rotating drive shaft 11. The shaft 10 also carries `a clutch adapted when actuated to connect this shaft for a single revolution with the gear 9, and the transmission between this gear and the wire-feeding rolls is so proportioned that a single revolution of the shaft 10 will feed a pre determined length of wire into the raceway, namely such a length as will bring the free end 15 of the wire to the point shown in Fig. 3; that is to say, toa point slightly beyond the welding electrodes 16, 17 and 18.

The table 2 is also equipped with transverse slots suitably arranged for serving as guideways for slides 19, 2O and 21, all three of which slides are equipped on their lower faces with racks 22 (shown 4more clearly in Figure 6). said racks 22 meshing with pinions 23 on a shaft 24 having at one end a handle 25 whereby this shaft maybe rotated for moving the slides 19,20 and 21 either to their operative positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or to inoperative positions in vwhich the said slides are retracted clear of the slot 5.

Associated with the slide 19 is a plunger 26 connected through a spring 27 with a slide 28 carrying a roller 29 which engages a cam 30 on a Welder shaft 31 extending longitudinally of the machine at some distance below the raceway. The Welder shaft 31 also carries three cams spaced from each other as shown in Fig. 8 and arranged revmer of which levers is bent at an angle .and

extended to afford a lever terminating 1n a handle 36. The welder shaft 31 also carries a cam 37 operatively connected to a knife or cutter 38, which knife is slidably mounted and preferably disposed close to the forward end of the runway 6, and which knife is withdrawn by a spring 39, see Figure 4, to `a position entirely below the slot in the said runway when the wire is fed into the machine. From the above description, it will be seen that after wire has been fed into a loop with the aid of the runway, so that the free end 15 of the wi're overlaps a portion of the supply part of the wire under the slide 20, the resulting loop may be clamped respectively at opposite sides of the slide 20 between the slide 19 and the plunger 26, and between the slide 21 and the clamping jaw 33. Then if current from a suitable source is connected respectively to the frame of the machine and to the guide 32, the successive upward movement of the electrodes 16, 17 and 18 will successively weld the overlapped portions of the loop to each other at three relatively spaced points. Likewise, it will be obvious that a forcible upward movement of the cutter 38 by the cam 37 will sever the loop from the supply of wire, for which purpose the cam 37 is preferably positioned rotationally in advance of the cams associated with the weldin,f r electrodes. so that the severing of the wire is effected prior to the welding operations.

lVhen the wire is fed into the. raceway 3 'by means of the mechanically rotated rollers 8. its normal resistance to bending will cause il, to coliform substantially lo the commuof the interior of this channel. 'l`hen lhslides 19. 20 and 21 are moved into their operative positions of Figs. 2 and 3 (or hetween the box 4 on the one hand and the electrodes as well as the plunger 26 and Re clamping jaw 33) after which the wire un" the loop is clamped between the slide 21 :nel the jaw 33 by moving the hand lever 36 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow. This clamping holds the free end of the wire. sa that the loop can then be tensioned around lill) the package by means of the powerdriven rollers 69, both of which rollers are operatively connected through a gear 39 anda worm to driving mechanism controlled by a clutch 41. The tensioning rollers 69 are `mounted on shafts carried by a slide 42 which is horizontally movable o n the frame 1 of the machine towards ,they raceway, but which is resisted as to such movementby a spring 43, the tension of' which spring may be adjusted by suitable means, such as `a threaded bushing 44. This spring 43 holds the slide 42 vin its normal position while the rollers 69 are retraotingthewire and there'- 'by tensioning the loop, Yuntil the strain of this tensioning exceeds the pressure for which the spr1ng43 is adjusted. Then a continued rotation ofl the rollers"',69 compresses the spring 43, thereby moving theslide 42 forwardly of the machine and effectively discontinuingthe 'tensioning action of the wire, so that theextent of this ten sioning 1s predetermined by the adjustment of the s ing 43.

r The slide 42 also carries a rod 45 having at its forward end a hinged tip 46 normally held in alinement with,` the rody 45 by a spring 51, the position of'which is indicated in Figures 3 and 4 and which spring is arranged in anydesired' manner obvious to those skilled in theart, to the end thatsaid hinged tip- 46 will project normally into the path of a pivoted latch 47, which latch is normally drawn by a spring 52 into a position in which it holds a clutch l8r/inoperative. When the movement of the l'slide 42 forces the' rod 45 forward, the tip46 moves this latch 47 out of its latcliing position, thus releasingtheclutch and connectingthe Welder shaft 31 for onerevolution with a gear 5 3, which gear is loose with respect to the shaft 31 and iscontinuously revolved by 'means of Aa gear A54 on the drive shaft 11.v`

This clutch vconnects the Welder shaft 31 with a continuously rotating drive shaft 1 1,

so that theforward movement of the slide 42 and of the rod 45 carriedby the `latter efi '-fects the-connection of the welderishaftl to the'source of powerv and therefore starts the successive operationsof the elements actuated by the cams `mounted lon thswelder shaft. As soon as the" clutch -48 has thus been actuated, the hinge end 46 ofthe rod 45 is forced out ofthe wayxby a stripper arm 50 carried by a part of thel clutch, thusj permitting the spring 52 to return the latch 47, so that Athis latch willstop `at the end.l of a single revolution.

When the shaft 31 is thus rotated, the

cam -30carried by the same first raises the 'jaw26 so as to clampa part of the wire loop z between the latter andthe slide 20, and the vcam 37 then rai'ses-` the cutter 38, .thereby severing the 'supplyend of the wire from. the loop portions. This leaves the freshly the. rotation between the jaw 33 and the slide 21. Then a manual raising of the lever 36 releases this last grip on the wire loop, after which a partial rotation of the pinions controlled by the handle 25 withdraws the slides 19, 20

and 21 from their position between the package .and the wire loop, thus permitting the Vbanded package to be removed from the table.

In practice, three movable slides can be made sufficiently thin so that their removal will not cause an excessive loosening of the band of the package, and particularly not if `the tensioning of the loop was substan tially symmetrical with respect to the for.

ward and rear ends ofthe package. With this in jmind, I desirably equip the table Awith yielding stops. for resisting the ten- .si'oning of the wire loop, after `the general "manner shown in United States -Patent No. 1,324,590, 'patented December 9, 1919, by A. (if. Guenther, for wire tying machine. Thus, in the drawin I have shown the sto formation `as comprlsing a pair of pivoted jaws 56 continually forced in one direction -bysprings v57 and hence offering a yielding resistancegto the package, so that the packa age will be moved somewhat towards the "rear of the` machine during the tensioning and will therefore distribute the tensionmg effect over the forward and rear ends of the package.

Whenthe clamping jaw 33 'is lowered by the raising ofthe lever 36 so as to release the free endof the supply of wire, the continuedl action ofthe retracting rolls 69 will tend to withdraw the supply wire entirely from the ymachine and would pull the tip of lthis wire beyond the'feeding rolls 8 if left unchecked.l However, the' releasing of the end' of the supply wire also permits the spring 43 to return the slide 42 which car-A ries the wire-returning rollers. When thus returned, the wireretracting rollers are automatically thrown out of effective action kbefore they have returnedl the supply wire to any considerable extent. For this pur-` pose,.Figure 3 shows. the upper of these rolls 'as mounted on a bearing 'carried by the; upper of a pair of toggle-joint levers.

which levervhas' a shoulder 58 so arrangedA that a'forward lthrust on this shoulder will tend to unbend-t-he toggle against the pressure of a spring 59 and will thereby sepaf rate the rollers 69 so that they will no longer grip the wire between them. To effect this separation, I provide a sto 60 so disposed as to be in the path of the s ioulder 58 when the slide 42 is being returned to its starting position by the spring 43, thus automati- V cally putting the retracting rolls out of action. This stop 60 is desirably formed as a part of a lever 61 continually pressed in one direction by a spring 62 but adapted to be moved against the pressure of this spring by a. link 63. This link 63 is connected to the toggle lever :35 as l shown in Figure 1 so that the link will he drawn forward when the lever 36 is depressed for gripping the wire loop and starting the wire feeding rolls.

The toggle mechanism controlled by the lever 36 is also connected by a link 64 with toggle levers 65 controlling the wire-feeding rollers 8`as also shown in Fig. 1, consequently, when the wire has been fed into loop formatiomthe single downward movement of the lever 36 releases the wire-feeding rolls from their grip on the wire and permits the spring 59 to force the wireretracting rolls into operative engagement with the wire.

For the single-revolution clutch as needed both on a shaft 10 and on a counter shaft 31, I may employ a type such as that pictured in Figs. 10 and 14 inclusive, namely one in which a barrel 48 is keyed to the shaft and has an approximately cylindrical portion forming a bearing for a gear loosely rotatable on the same. The hub of the gear is provided with a number of "substantially emispherical openings extending parallel to the axis of the shaft and adapted to aline witha corresponding recess in the hub of the barrel, so that the two recess portions will to ether form a tubular bore. Mounted in this ore is a clutch pin 65a having a portion cut away so as to aline with the adjacent part of the hub of the barrel when this in is in one position, as shown in Fig. 11.

owever, the pin carries an arm 66 engaged by a spring 67 which normally tends to move this arm into the position of Fig. 12, thereby tilting the cut-away part of the clutch pin so that this part connects the hub of the clutch barrel with the gear and thereby causes the two to rotate together. In operation the arm 66 engages the latch 47. thereby compressing the spring 67 and holding the arm 66 in the position of Fig. 10, in which position the clutch pin permits the gear to rotate freely upon the hub of the barrel which is keyed to the. shaft. When the latch 47 is forced ont of the way b v the movement of thcrod as previously described. the spring 67 moves the arm 66 to the position of Fig. 12 as soon as one of the openings in the gear is opposite the opening which houses the cntaway ortion of the clutch pin, thus permitting t e spring 67 to move the arm 66 and the clutch pin to the position of Fig. 12. The gear is then operatively connected with the shaft and rotates with the latter until the arm 66 strikes the latch 47 when the clutch has completed one` revolution, whereupon this latch returns the arm 66 to its position of Fig. l0 and thereby causes the clutch pin to disengage the gear from the shaft.

Reviewing the operation of the machine, this is started with driving shaft 11 rotating continuously and with the transverse .slides 19, 30 and 21 retracted so as to leave the longitudinal slot 5 in the table fully open. this being the position after the previously banded package. has been withdrawn. In turning the handle 25 so as to rotate the pinions 23, the three slides are moved across the slot. 5 into the positions shown in Fig. 2, and in so doing the tip of the slide 2l engages one end of a bell-crank lever 14, thereby causing the other end of this lever (as shown in Fig. 5) to move a slide 68. This slide releases the latch69, which normally prevents the operation of a clutch connecting the continuously driven shaft 10 with the gear 9 which is connected by other gears with the wire feeding rolls S for a single revolution of the shaft 10.

The feeding rolls therefore force the supply ot' wire into the raceway 3,r so that when the clutch disengages the gear 9 from the shaft 10 (after the manner heretofore described in connectior with Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive) the wire will be disposed 1n a loop formation urged outward by its own resiliency into the raceway 3 and with the extreme tip 15 ofthe wire disposed substantially as shown in Fig. 3, or between the slides 19 and 20.l I then depress the handle 36, thereby gripping the free end ortion of the wire between the slide 20 and t e rear portion of the raceway, so as to obtain a hold againstwhich the wire may be tensioned about the package, which package may be inserted at any time prior to the movement of the lever 36. The same downward movement of this lever 36 also drives both the links 64 and 63 forward, and each of these links operates the toggle joint connected thereto. Consequently, the link 64 raises the upper wire-feeding roller so as to permit the wire to slide freely between the feeding rolls, while the link 63 overcomes the pressure of the spring 62 and thereby moves the stop out of the path of the shoulder 58. so that the spring 59 can force the wire-retracting rolls 69 into effective engagement with the wire. A down- '.vard movement of the arm 36 of the angular lever comprising the arms 34 and 36 also acts through `its toggle connection with thc, link 35 and through a plunger 81 to rock a bell-crank lever 92 as shown in Figure 1. This movement of the plunger 81 is resisted llt by a. spring 83 in the casi-ng 82-^in which this plunger is slidably mounted (as shown inv Figure 9)n so las to compensate for the ef-v 'rod normally holds av clutch latch 94 in operative position against the pressure of a spring 83, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. rIhis latch 94 normally acts as a detent for the trip arm 75 of the Iclutch (shown in Fig.

ure 18) which connects the continuously rotating shaft 1l with gears interposed between this shaft and the worm 40 used for actuating the wire tensioning rollers.k When the handle lever 36 is depressed and-fthe rod4 68 is moved towards the right of Figure 1 through the above described connections, it rocks, the detent arm 94 towards the right y vorout of engagement with the trip arm 75,

thereby permitting the clutch to operate.

But as soon as this has occurred, a suitably` connected hook-arm 71 draws the rod 68 oi the face of the detent 94 and hence permits the spring 85 to return the detent to its nor- -mal position,jso that'the clutch is stopped at the end of a single revolution.

When thus actuated, the rolls 69 retract the supply of wire, lthereby tensioning the loop about the package and moving the lat; ter somewhat against the pressure ot the spring 57 (Fig. 2) to distribute the tensioning with respect to the package. The same movement of the worm wheel 39 which ro tates the tensioning rollers also tends-to impart a longitudinal movement to the slide 42 which carries these rollers. As soon as this latter strain exceeds that for which the spring 43 is adjusted, sothat when the loop has been tensioned. to the predetermined .extent, the slide 42 moves 'forward and thrusts the hinged end 46 of the rod 45 against the clutch latch 47. This actuates the clutch,

controlling the welder shaft 31 and causes the latter to rotate fora single revolution, thereby actuating the various cam mechanisms for gripping added loop portions, for turning on the current, and for severing the loop from the supply of wire; Tomake the welding more effective, I desirably provide a commutator 73 on the shaft 31, so arranged as to connect with aspring-pressed brush 7 4 only for a part'of the time durino'" which each electrode is pressed against the wire,

these parts being shown in detail in Fig. 19

but partly omitted to simplify Fig.` 1. lI also desirably provide springsl 72 for aiding gravity in retracting the electrodes, 16, 17 and 18. i l

` It is to be noted that band-cutter 38 is operated automaticallykby the cam 37 for se v- `ering the band at a pointadjacent to the union elected between terminal portions of a loop into which the band is adapted to be formed around the package, see Figures 1,

and 4. The band-cutter is in-shearing rela: tion to an end portion of the guide6 which .part acts to performA the function of means for retaining an end portion of a band when the latter is loopedaround a package. Said cutter 38and the gripper 26 are operated automatically to position one endportion of a band int physical contact with another end portion of saidA band when looped, and to retain said endy portions of the band in such l physical contact during-the operation thereon of band-securing means` by which the two end portions of the band are joined or united. In the example ofv the invention herein disclosed, theband-securingmeans is constituted by the welding mechanism elecv. trically operated to join the end portions of the loop by a plurality of spot welds, as `shown in Figures 15 and 16. i

However, while I have illustrated and described both the clutch arrangement and otherv parts of my mechanism in certain suitable embodiments, I do not wish to be lime ited to these or other'details of the construction and arrangement here described as the same might obviously be varied in many ways without 'departing from the spirit of my invention. `Likewise, while I have used the term point in connection with welding, I do not mean to be limited to diminu-A tive sizes of spot welds, since the welding might equally well be in the form of lines or strips extendin from edgeto edge of the wire band, as s own in dotted linesin Fig. 15. So also, I 'do not wish to he limited to any particular cross-section of wire, butl have used this term in the broad signicance 1n which 1t may designate a wide)variety of.

tion of said band, means for retracting said band whilelso held to thereby place tension on said band, said band-retracting means being separate from band-feeding means,

and meansy for joining the substantially parallel portions of said band while said band is under tension.

2. In a. package bandingl mechanism,

means forfeeding a band into loop formation and with the intended terminal portions of said loop in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other, means for retaining one terminal portion of the looped band in a lixed relation tothe other terminal portion of said looped band, Mmeans for retracting said band and thereby Vplacing the loop under tension around a package, means for severing the loop from the band supply, and means for joining the substantially parallel terminal portions of said looped band.

3. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, power-driven rollers arranged for reti-acting the wire to tension-the same about the object, a slidably mounted support for the rollers, and yielding means resisting the sliding of the support.

4:. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, means for feeding the Wire into a loop, means for gripping a portion of said loop, and means for simultaneously actuating the gripping means and for releasing the wire feeding means from operative engagementwith the wire.

5. In an appliance for 'banding an object with wire, a raceway substantially encircling the object, means for feeding a predetermined length of wire into the raceway to form a loop encircling the object and havinor its free end substantially at a predetermine position, means for gripping a portion of the loop, and means responsive to the actuating of the said gripping means for releasing the wire-feeding means from engagement with the wire.

6. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, means for feeding the wire into a loop, means for gripping the wire at one of the intended terminals of the loop, means for releasing the feed means from operative engagement with the wire when a predetermined length of wire. is fed to produce theI loop, means for retracting the wire to thereby tension the loop around an object, and means for setting the wire reti-acting means into action when the wire feed means are moved out of operative engagement with the wire.

7. In an appliance for handing an object with wire, a table supporting the package entirely above its top and having a slot facing the package and permitting wire to be looped aboubthe package with a portion of the wiredisposed below the top of the table, and a spacer member movable transversely across the said slot between the package and the wire loop.

8. In an appliance for banding an objecvJ with wire, a package-supporting table provided with a slot within which is ada ted to be positioned a portion of a loop which encircles a package, a imember movable relatively to said table 'and transversely with respect to the slot therein, means for feeding a wire to produce said loop, and means con trollable by the movement of said element for setting into operation said wire-feeding means.

9. In a wire-banding appliance, a package-supporting table provided with a slot, a plurality of elements movable relatively to said slot, means for imparting movement concurrently to said elements, means for 6 y v i 1,650,843

feeding wire into a loop formation adapted to encircle an object, and means controllable by the movement of one of said elements for setting into action said wire-feeding means.

10. In an appliance for wire-banding an object, a support for the object having a. slot so located as to permit a portion of the wire band to be disposed below said support, movable means extending transversely of the slot for spacing the said wire ortions from the object, and means for c amping parts of the said wire portion against the said movable means.

11. In an appliance for wire-banding an object, a support for the object, having a slot so located as to permit portions of the wire band to be disposed below said support, and having another slot extending transversely of the aforesaid slot, a slide movable in the transverse slot across the first named slot, and means for clamping a portion of the wire band against the slide.

12. In an appliance for banding an object, an object supporting member, and a plurality of devicesfor clamping relatively spaced portions of a banding wire, each ot said devices including a pair of co-operablc members one of which is movable parallel to the bottom of anobject and the other of which is movable toward or from said object, transversely thereto.

13. In an appliance for wire-banding au object, a support for the object, and plural means for clamping relatively spaced portions of the banding wire; each of the said means including a pair of members, one of which is movable into and out of a position between the wire band and the object, and the other of which is movable towards and away from the portion of the banding wire spaced from the object by the aforesald member.

14. In an appliance for wire-banding an object, 'a table on which the bottom of th object is adapted to rest, the said table having a slot for permitting the banding wire to extend below portions of the table, a clamping element adapted to be interposed between the bottom of an object and a portlon of the banding wire, and a second clamping,r element movable transversely of the bottom of the object and adapted to clamp the banding wire between itself and the first named clamping element.

15. In an appliance for wire-banding a package, means for feeding a wire in loop formation Aaround the package with por,- tions of the wire loop relatively overlapping, means for gripping one portion of the wire loop, means for tensioning the wire loop, and means controllable by said gripping means Vfor setting into action said wire tensioning means.

16. In an appliance for wirebanding a package, means for feeding a wire in loop formation around the package with portions of the Wire loop relatively overlapping,

means for grip'ping one portion of the Wlre' loop, wire-tensioning means and means controlled by the movement of said gripping means for sblftlng the w1re tenslonlng p means into a service relation to the wire.

l one terminal portion of said loop, means for tensioning said loop subsequently lto thel gripping thereof, and means for gripping another portion of said loop subsequently to the tensicningthereof.

18. In a wire-banding appliance, a table having a top disposed for supporting the object which 4is to be banded and having the `said top provided with a slot, va plurality ot elements arranged forpmovement across the said slot, means for moving the saidelements across the slot, means for feeding wire into a loop encircling both the object and the said elements; meansfor tensioning the said loop and for securing portions thereof to each other, and means for thereafter retracting the said elements.

19. In -an appliance for wire-banding an object, stationary meansincluding a support for the object anda raceway partly encircling the object, vfthe raceway having a gap therein, 'cooperable welding .electrodes adjacent to said gap, means for feeding wire into the raceway to form aloop encircling the object and having its terminals disposed between the said electrodes, means for tensioning the loop and means for thereafter actuating the welding electrodes to join the loop terminals to each other.

20. In an appliancefor banding packages with wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loopadapted to encircle a. package, wire-tensioning meansoperable for retracting the wire of the loop so -as to tighten said lbop around the package, wireholding means actuated to fixedly retain one terminal portion of said loop in an overlapping relation to the other terminal portion of said loop, and controlling means whereby the wire-feeding means is shifted out of4 operative relation to the wire and the wire tensioning means is brought into service subsequently to the operation of iXedly retainingone terminalj/nf said wire 4by rsaid wire holding means. j

21. In an appliance for banding packages with wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop adapted to encircle a package, wire-tensioning means operable for retracting the wire of the loop so as to tighten said loop around the package, Wire-holding means actuated to fixedly retain one terminal portion of said loop in an over-lapping relation to the other terminal portion vwire portions to each other 'at a of saidfloop, means for rjoining or uniting the lapped terminal portions of said loop,

l the third spacer for welding loop portions of the wire to each other.

23. Inanappliance for uniting adjacent` portions of a wire band disposed about a package, means for effecting the said uniting,` spacer members spacing the package from the wire portions4 which `are being united, a stationary support arranged for supporting both the package and the aforesaid elements and means movably mounted on the support for simultaneously withdrawing the spacer members -from their said spacin position. i

24. nan appliance for banding objects with wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop adapted to encircle the object, means for iixedly retaining one lterminal portion of said loop in an overlapping relation to the other terminal porf tion of the loop, tensioning means for tightefning the loop around the object, and controlling means vactuated concurrentlyfwith said retaining means for shifting the Wirefeeding means out of service rela-tion to the wire and for shifting the tensioni-ng means v into a service relation to the wire.

wire band portions While the band is under tension, for severing the wire loop from the supply 'of wire and for electrically welding overlapped wire portions to each other.

26. Inl an appliance for electrically uniting overlapping end portions of a'wire loop, consecutively/operating means lfor gripping. such overlapping wire portions, for severing the wire loopfrom the supply of Wire, and for electrically welding the overlapped plurality vof relatively spaced points.

427. In an appliance for banding a' package with wire initiallyq disposed in a loop formation vloosely encircling the package and having the tip of the Wire overlappingenother Wire portion, means for gripping'a loop portion of the free end of the wireat a distance from the tip of the latter, means 4 for tensioning the wire loop about the package, means controllable by said gripping means for shifting the wire tensioning n'ieans into a service relation to the wire subsequently to a cessation in the operation of the wireleeding means to produce the loop, means for severing the wire from the supply adjacent to the .said gripping means and for pressing the severed end of the wire into closely overlappingr relation to a. loop p0rtion of the wire, and means for thereafter securing the said closely overlapped wire portions to each other.

28. In an appliance for wire-banding a package, means for feeding the end of a supply .of wire'into a loop encircling the package and having the extreme tip of the wire adjacent to another portion of the wire, and having the loop portion imn'iediately back of the said tip diverging angularly from the supply portion ot' the wire adjacent thereto; a clamping element disposed between the said angularly diver-ging portions, means disposed within the wire-loop for clamping a portion of the loop against the first named clamping element; means for tensioning the wire about the package when the said loop portion is thus clamped, cutting means for severing the supply of wire adjacent to the said clamping element, and means for thereafter securing the wire loop portion thus severed from the supply of wire to an adjacent loop portion.

29. The method of banding a package with wire, which consists in forming a loop encircling a package and positioning the free end portlon of said wireloop in an overlapping relation to another portion of said loop, holding the free end portion of said loop in fixed relation to the overlapped portion, tensioning the loop around the package by a pull angularly divergingfrom the fixedly held end portion of the wire, again holding thewire of the loop by gripping the same at a point beyond the end first held, severing the Wire at a point adjacent the first holding point, and welding by heat and pressure the two end portions in the area intermediate the two specified holding points.

30. In an appliance for banding objects with wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop with a terminal portion of the wire in lapping relation to a portion of the loop, a plurality of wire holding devices one of which engages the wire at its terminal portion and the other of which engages the Wire leading to the supply, means for successively actuating Asaid'wire-holding devices to grip the wire at different stages in the operation of banding the object, means for tensioning the loop subsequently to the engagement with the wire of that i holding device which retains the terminal portion fixedlyin position, means for joining the overlapped portions of the wire in the area intermediate the engagement therewith of the said plurality of wire-holding means, and means for severing the wire.

3,1. In an appliance for banding objects with wire, a package support, a member movable relatively to the package support in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of a package, means for looping v a wire around the package and crosswise of said member, with said member intermediate the surface. of the package and the wire, a second member co-operable with the first member and movable relatively thereto for engagement with the wire, and means for shifting the first member out of operative relation to the second member and for withdrawing said tirst member from its place between the wire and the package.

32. ln an appliance for bandin objects with wire, means operable for fee ing wire to produce a loop and for retractingthe wire ot said loop into tight engagement with a package, a plurality of holding devices engageahle with overlapping portions of said wire adjacent the terminals of the loop, a welding member movable into position between the'wire and the surface of a package, means for shifting the welding member into and out of a service relation to the lapping portions ol a wire, a second welding member movable relatively to the first Weldin member, and means for actuating said secon weldingv member with respect to the first welding member for the application of pressure and for feeding electrical current t o the lapping wire portions by the co-operation of said two named welding electrodes.

33. In an appliance for wire-banding an object, means lengaging a wire to feed it about the object, means for thereafter gripping a portion of the wire, wire-retracting means for tensioning the resulting loop about the object; and cooperating means for actuating the gripping means, releasing the wire-feeding means from engagement with the wire, and actuating the wire-retracting means.

34. Mechanism as per claim 33, with the said cooperating means arranged for providing an interval of time between the actuating of the gripping and wire-feeding means and the actuating of the wire-retractingmeans.

35. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire feeding means operable for the formation of a loop with a terminal portion of said wire in lap ing relation to a part of the loop, means fbr gripping a terminal portion of the wire subsequently to the formation of the loop, wire-tensioning means, Jo-operating means for actuatin the gripping means at an interval interme iate the cessation in the operation of feeding the wire and in the operation of tensioning the wire, and resilient means associated withl ating subsequently posed rollers engaging tlie Wire, a worm- Wheel connected to one of the rollers, a 1ongitudinally immovable screw engaging the Worm Wheel, a slidable carrier for the worm- Wheel and the rollers, and yielding means for resisting a sliding of the carrier.

37. In an appliance of the class described,

'wire-pulling means' includinga pairof opposed rollers .engaging the wire, a Worm wheel connected to one of the rollers, a longitudinally immovable screw engaging the worm wheel, a slidable carrier for the Wormwheel and the rollers, spring means continuusly urging the .carrier in the same direction in which the Wire is pulled, and means engaged by the carrier at its extreme movement in the said direction for operatively disengaging the rollers from the Wire.

A 38. In 4an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-tensioning means including a slidable carrier, co-operable` wire rollers supported thereby, means-forimparting rotative movement to said rollers, means for moving said carrier in the direction in which the Wire is pulled for tensioning the same, means engageable by the carrier as it approaches the limit of its movement for shifting the co-operable rolls out 'of service relation to the wire, and means for controlling the action of said roll-disenga ing means.

39. In an appliance including separate wiz-@feeding and wire-retracting Lmeans, means for gripping a portion of the wire after it has been fed.; concurrently acting means for operating the gripping means, re` leasing the wire-feeding means from operative engagement with the wire, the Wire-retracting means into engagement withA the wire; and 'means associated with the said concurrently acting means but operthereto for actuating the vvire-retracting` means. v y

40. In an 'appliance for wire-banding an object, means for tensioning a wirev` terminating ina loop disposed about the kobject and having the free end of the wire overlapping a portion of the loop, means for gripping the Wireloop attwo points lother than the said overlapped parts, means for securing the overlappedv parts toeach other, and a means for severing the wire of the loop from the supply ofwire while thev wire .is under tension and after `the securing means have been set in operation.

41. In an appliance for wire-bandin an ob] ect, means for tensioning a Wire terminating in a loop disposed about the object and having the free end of1 the wire overlapping and moving" a portion of the loop.,r means for gripping the Wire loop at two points other than the said overlapped parts, means for securing the overlapped parts to each other, and means for discontinuing the tensioning of the wire after the securing means have been set in operation. s

42. In an appliance for wire-banding an object, means for tensioning a wire terminating in a loop disposed about the object and having. the free end of the Wire overlapping a portion of the loop,l means for gripping the wire loop 4at two points other than the said overlapped parts, means for welding the overlapped parts to each other by a number of consecutively formed spaced Welds, and means for discontinuing the tensioning after at least one of the Welds has been effected.

43. In a Wire-banding appliance, vWiretensioningv means, a spring-resisted slide' carrying the latter, Welding means for adcontrolling the Welding means, and means carried by the slide forl actuating the said clutch.

44. In a wire-banding appliance, Wire- `joining portions of the'Wire band, a clutch..v

tensioning means, aV spring-resisted slide carrying the latter, Welding means for adljoining portions of the Wire band, a clutch controlling the Welding means, a latch nor-A mally holding the clutch inoperative, and means carried by the slide for releasing the latch from its normalv position when the slide is moved against the spring resistance associated therewith. 4

45. `In an appliance for electrically uniting overlapping end portions of a wire loop, cam, actuated means for successively gripping a portion of the said loop, for severing the loop from the supply of Wire, and for consecutively pressing the .pverlapped Wire portions against each other at a pluralityof relatively spaced points; in combination with means for supplying welding current to the overlapped'wire portions at each 'of the said points during only a portion of the time for which the same are pressed together.

46. In an appliance for' electrically uniting end portions of a wire loop, electrodes disposed for clampingly engagin lapped wire portions respective y at a.` lu- Arality of relative spaced points, a cam s aft arranged for successively forcing the refA spect-ive electrodes into operative position andcommutating means operated by said shaft :for supplying current to each of the respective electrodes during only a portion of the time in which it is in operative posi' tion.

47. In an appliance for electrically uniting overlapping end portions of a.` wire loop, cam actuated means for successively gri ping a portion of said loop, for severing t e loop fromA the supply of wire, and for conthe over-- pressed against secutively pressing the overlapped wire portions a ainst each other at a plurality of relative y spaced points; in combination with a commutator controlling a supply of Welding current for each of the said relatively spaced points, and a single shaft jointly rotating the said commutator and the cams forming part of the said cam-actuated means.

48. In an appliance for uniting an object encircling wire loop, means consecutively operating for gripping a portion of the loop, tensioning the loop, gripping another ortion of the loop, and pressing terminal oop portions against each other; in combination with means for supplying a welding current to the said terminal loo portions for a part only of the time during which they are each other.

49. In an appliance for banding an object with Wire, means operable for the formation of a loop with a terminal end of the wire in lapping relation to a part of the loop, a plura ity of holding devices acting successively for firstgripping the terminal end of the wire and for thereafter gripping the lapping portions of said wire at a stage subsequently to placing the wire of the loop under tension, Wire-tensioning means operable for retracting the wire of the loop rior to the gripping engagement of that olding device which engages the lapping portions of the Wire, and a plurality of welding members acting successively for welding the lapping portions of the wire.

'50. In an appliance for banding an object with Wire, means operable for the formation of a loop with aterminal end of the wire in lapping relation to a part of the loop, a plurality of holding devices acting successively for first gripping the terminal end of the wire and for thereafter gripping the lapping portions of said wire at a stage subsequently to placing the wire of the loop under tension, wire-tensioning means operable for retracting the wire of the loop prior to the gripping engagement of that holding device which engages the lapping portions of the wire, and electrical-means for spot Welding the lapping portions of said wire Within the area lintermediate the separated points of gripping engagement with the wire of the i said plurality of holding devices.

51. In an appliance for lbanding an object 1- with wire` wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop with a terminal portion of the wire in lapping relation to the loop, holding means for said wire, a welding electrode movable to a position intermediate the Wire and the surface of a package, a plurality of welding electrodes co-o erable with the irst Welding electrode, an means for actuating said plurality of welding electrodes to position the latter into and out of service relation to the first named welding electrode.

52. In' an appliance for banding an objec'L with wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop with aterminal portion of the wire in lapping relation to the loop, holding means for said wire, a welding electrode movable to a. position intermediate the wire and the surface of a paolo age, a plurality of Welding electrodes cooperable with said rst named means for effecting the successive movement of said plurality of electrodes into service relation to the iirst named electrode.

53. In an appliance for banding an object with Wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a loop with a terminal por tion of the wire in lapping relation to the loop, holding means for said wire, a Welding electrode movable to a position intermediate the wire and the surface of a package, means for withdrawing said electrode trom tne service position between the Wire and the package, a second welding electrode co-operable with the first welding electrode, and automatic means actuated to position the second welding electrode into service relation to the iirst welding electrode subsequentlg7 to the movement of the latter bctween the wire and the package.

.54. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-feeding and tensioning means controllable for the formation of a loop and for thereafter tightening said loop around an object, means for retaining a terminal part of the loop in fixed lapping relation to another part of the loop prior to the tensioning action on the loop, separate means for iixedly retaining the two lapping portions of the loop subsequently to the tensioning.,r action on the loop, means for severing the wire of thc loop subsequently to the tcnsioning act-ion, and means actuated subsequently to the second retaining means and to the severing means for joining the lapping por tions of the loop in the area between the gripping contacts with the wire of the two said retaining means.

55. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-feeding and tensioning means controllable for the formation of a loop and for thereafter tightening said loop around an object, means operable at will for gripping a terminal part of said wire, separate means for gripping the overlapping parts o`f said wire at a point separated from the first gripping means, welding mechanism, and automatic means for actuating the second gripping means and the welding mechanism in successive order.

56. In an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-feeding and tensioning mechanism operable for the formation of a loop and for subsequently tensioning said electrode, and' llH lls') loop, means operable at will for gripping a terminal part of said loop, a powerpoperated gripper for engagement with lapping portions of said loop,vcutting means, welding means, and power-operated means for actuating the cutting means and the Welding means in successive order.

57., In an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-feeding and tensioning mechanism operable for the formation of a loop and for subsequently tensioning said loop, means operable at will for gripping a terminal part of said loop, a second gripping means engageable with lapping portions of said loop,welding means positioned for joining the lapping portions of the loop in the area intermediate the engagement With the loop of the first gripping means and the second grip ing means, cutting means for severing t e wire adjacent Vthe first named gripping means, and shaft'actuated'means for successively operating the second named gripping means,.the cutting means, and the welding means.

58. ln an appliance for banding an object with wire, wire-feeding and tensioning mechanism operablev for the formation of a loop and for subsequently tensioning said loop, a plurality of slidable members hav ing means for 'moving the same into and out of operative positions intermediate the surface o f a package and the wire of the loop,

gripping means co-operable with certain ofsaid slidable members and welding means 1o-operable with another of said slidable members, and means for actuating said grippingl means and said welding means in due order.

59. In an apliance `for banding anfobject with wire, wire-feeding andtensioning means operable for the formation of a wire loop and for tensioning said loop subsequently to such formation, a plurality of wire gripping devices separated fromfeach other by an appreciable interval, one of which devices is operable for holding a ter-` minal part of the wire andthe other of. which devices is operable by engagement with lapping portions of the wire,l means for joining t e lapping portions of the wirein the area intermediate the engagement with the wire of the two said gripping means, and means for severing the wire prior to the joining'operation.

6.04 In an appliance for banding an ob-` ject with wire, eo-operable wire-feedingV rolls, co-operable wire-tensioning rolls, grip-` ping means engageable with the wire subsequently to the formation of a loop by said wire-feeding rolls and prior to the action of the tensioning rolls, shifting moving the wire-feeding rolls into and out of service relationto the wire, other shifting means for controlling the wire-tension l ing rolls to eectv the engagement with and .disengagement from the wire, and means for controlling the two said roll shifting means with the lapse of an appreciable in.

terval of time between the service action of the wire-tensioning rolls and the movement' toV an out of service position ofthe Wire-feeding rolls.

62. ln an appliance for banding an ob.

ject with wire, wireffeeding means operable for the formation of a wire loop, a carrier movable relatively to said wire-feeding means, wire-tensioning means supported by said carrier and movable therewith relatively to the wire feeding means, means con# trolling the slidable travel of the carrier and the wire-tensioning means to pull the means for wire o f the loop to a determinedV tension,

gripping means, and' wire joining means for uniting the wire of the loop when under the desired tension.

63. In an appliance for banding an ob-4 ject With wire, wire-feeding means operable for the formation of a wire loop, a carrier.-

movable vrelatively to said wire-feeding means, wire-tensionin means supported by said carrier and mova le therewith relative- .ly to the wire-feeding means, means yield;

ably opposing the travel of said carrier and the wire-tensioning means Vwith respect to' the wire-feeding means, controlling means for thetravel of said carrierunder a desired tension of the-loop, and wire joining means. Y

Signed at Chica o, August 2nd, 1918.

JOHN SHE MAN MCGHESNEY. 

